Pressed metal body frame



0d. 6, 1931. J, L DMNKA 1,826,425

PRESSED METAL BODY FRAME Filed Nov. 18, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l IINVENTUR. 7 JOSEPH Lspwmxl v FIG. I9

I r w f "ATTORNEY;

Oct. 6, 1931. JLLEDWINKA 1,826,425

PRESSED METAL BODY FRAME Filed Nov. 18, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.JOSEPH LEDWINKR BY W A TTORNE Y.

Oct.6, 1931.

J. LEDWINKA PRESSED METAL BODY FRAME Filed Nov. 18, 1925 5 Sheets'-Sheet3 INVENTOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKH BY 2 9 ATTORNEY.

J. LEDWINKA Oct. 6, 1931.

PRESSED METAL BODY FRAME Filed 8. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVEN TOR.

JOSEPH paowmxn BY W A TTORNE Oct. 6, 1931. .1. LEDWINKA PRESSED METALBODY FRAME Filed 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKA FIG. 8

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH'LEDWINKA, FPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G. 'IBUDD MANUFACTURING00., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIAPBESSED BODY FRAME Application filed Novembeglfi, 1925. Serial No.6t),734.

The invention is of great utility in connection with pleasure carbodies. This utility flows from a number of sources. The skeletonframework of the pressed metal body is greatly improved. The strength ofthe skeleton frame of the structure at large,

and resultantlyjthat of the unit sub-assemblies in which i ismanufactured-,is greatly increased. Construction in unit assemblies isgreatly facilitated. The joinder of the units to each other issimplified and cheapened. The units as such may be the more simply,efficiently, and effectively joined to each other. The :inventionimproves the forms of the main body side sills, the body posts, andtheir joinder with each other. There are yet other improvements in theposts and top rails of the structure-and theirjoinder with each other.And particularly is the structure of the so called cowl unit improved.

The main body side sills upon which the skeleton framework is foundedare of channel-shaped cross section with the bottom wall of the' channeldisposed vertically and outwardly of the body, the lower side wall isdisposed horizontally and is of plane form, the upper margin of thebottom wall is arched inwardly and merged into the top side wall, theinner edge of the top side wall is flanged downwardly and then inwardlyto support the floor boards, the cross braces have their ends enteredinto the mouth of the channel and are secured to both side wallsthereof, and the channel section posts have their dubbed ofl' endsclosed by a flange from an adjacent wall, and their side walls flangedand wrapped around the outer and upper-sur-- faces of the sill.

This construction is characteristic of the skeleton frame but it findsvariation in its several portions in which the invention has beendirected to meeting more exactly the varying conditions. Othercharacteristifs of the invention will be more fully and readilyunderstood and the specification fore-shortened by treating them withthe aid of the drawings.

Of the drawings Figures 1, 2 and 3 are the front, middle and rear partsof a vertical, longitudinal section of a closed pleasure car body.

joint of the rear or D post with the main body side sill and tonneausill corresponding in general to that portion of Fig. 3 designated bycircle 7.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section of this joint of Fig. 7 taken on line 8-8of Figs. 3 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 99of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the joint between the front post and thelower windshield panel appearing in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a cross section of the lap joint between these parts taken online 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged inside elevation of the joint between the frontpost and the top rail comprehended generally in the region of the circle12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the top rail adjoining the front posttaken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is an inside elevation of the oint between the rear or D postand the top rail taken in the region of the circle 14 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are respectively transverse sections of the rearquarter window frame taken on the lines correspondingly designated inFig. 3.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view showing the connection of the peakpanel to the A- post.

The skeleton framework of the body comprises main body side sills 20,tonneau side sills 21, main body cross braces 22, a tonneau rear sill23, front, intermediate and rear body posts A, B-C, D, a tonneau post E,body top rails 24, a lower windshield header 25, an upper windshieldheader 26, both extending be tween the A or front posts, and a system ofbracing appearing within the tonneau. section shown in Fig. 3. p

The outer shell structure which is connected to this skeleton framecomprises the cowl or shroud panel 27 connected jointly with the bodyside sills 20 and the A posts and Windshield header 25, the tonneau rearand quarter paneling designated generally 28 and interconnectingcommonly the D posts, the t0nneau side and rear sills, and the top rails24, and the roof designated generally 29 and interconnecting commonlythe top windshield header or peak panel 26, the top rails 24 and theforwardly arched bver top of the tonneau panel 28.

According to the invention of my co-pending application, Serial No.530,114, filed J anuary 18,1922, I construct such a body in unitsub-assemblies as follows and join them together as units in finalassembly. A cowl unit. comprising the A posts and connecting windshieldheaders 25 and 26 and the connected cowl or shroud panel 27. "Side unitscomprising themain body side sills 20 from the fore end of the shroud 27to the base of the D post,

the top rails 24 from the A posts to the E posts and the connected B andC posts and the cross brace units. A tonneau unit comprising the tonneauside sills 21 and connected rear sill 23, the D and E posts erectedthereon, and the tonneau paneling 28. This body I construct in the sameunitary subassemblies and as aforesaid, my present invention in additionto its other utilities is of great utility in facilitating suchsub-assemblies and their final assembly together.

The main body side sill 20 as clearly appears in Figs. 1 to 5 andespecially in Fig. 5 is of channel cross section having its bottom wall30 disposed vertically and outwardly of the body of the car. Its lowerside wall 31 is of plane form. free of flanges and upstandingprojections. The upper margin 32 of the bottom side wall is arched overinwardly and merged into the upper side wall 33. The inner edge of .theupper side wall 33 is flanged first downwardly as at 34 and theninwardly as at 35 to accommodate the floor boards 36 of the carwhich areextended fromv side sill 20 to side sill 20 and have their ends securedin the angle between the flanges 34 and 35. The cross braces 22 (Fig. 2)are likewise extended from sill to sill. They are of channel crosssection having flanged side walls. the flanges in this case extendedoutwardlv. Their ends are proie ted bodil within the mouth of thechannel section of the sills 20 to abut the outer bottom wall 30. Thechannels 22 are of a. depth corresponding to the width of the mouth andare secured commonly by welding and b rivets to both side walls of thechannel section sill. They thus interbrace these side walls and stifl'enand strengthen the sill not only at the points of joinder but for aconsiderable distance both ways from the joinder by reason of thestiffness afforded by the angle section offlanges 34-35. The abutting ofthe ends of the braces against the outer side wall stitlens the braceagainst angular movementin the horizontal plane. Only one of thesebraces is shown in place. them not shown. In Fig. 5 the end of a braceis dotted in position to afford an en'- larged view.

The A, BC, and D posts are each of channel shaped cross section asclearly appears especially in Figs. 1 to 3, 6, 8 and 17. They are incommon provided With dubbedoff lower ends closed by a flange from anadjacent wall and flanged side walls wrapped around the body side sills20. Let us examine first the bottom end of the A post in its joinderwith the side sill as shown in Figs. 4 to 6'. Here the dubbed-ofl' endis designated 37. It is closed by a flange 38 struck in from the bottomwall 39 of the post and seam welded at the edges to the side walls ofthe post. The front and rear side walls 4041 of the post at the innercorner of the dubbed-off end 37 are cut away and either or both providedwith an outwardly extending' flange 42 contoured to form a jog 43 of thesh ape of the bottom and top side walls 33 of the side sill 20. Therebythe sill and post are seated upon each other as shown in Fig. 5. Thebottom and top side walls of the sill are inwardly offset as at 44 to adepth sufficient' to bring the outer surface of the flange 42 flush withthe threshold. In effect. the flange 42 is wrapped around the bottom andthe top side wall of the sill to found the lower end of the post uponit. This ioint is spot or seam welded or both. resulting in a firmerection andconnection of the post. The arched over flange 42 and bottomwall 30 together constitute a rounded threshold face of generous area.removing the heretofore existing objectionable sharp corners at thethreshold of the car. at once lessening the danger of tripping of thoseentering the car and providing for a. simplification and a moreeffective closure of the bottom thereof.

At the A post onl one such flan e. 42 is provided. the front side wall40 of the post being otherwise sha ed for ioinder with the cowl panel 27as will presently be described. he B and C post is p ov ded with twosuch flanges 42, one on each the front side wall.

40 and the rear side wall 41. The D or rear post like the A post is alsoprovided with only one such. flange 42, in this case, connected With itsfront side wall 40 and wrapped around the rear end of the sill 20. Itsrear side wall is differently formed to There are a number of constituteit a means of connection with the possible closer fits, and insureslarger bases and better welds.

edge of the cowl panel. said edge nesting with the angular seat of thepost (Fig. (5).

The bottom wall 39 of the post is very wide at its base but isnarrowedgradually to the belt line where the post is of substantiallyumform width. This carries the line of joinder of the 'cowl panel withthe post upwardly on a pleasing upwardly and rearwardly trending course.At its bottom dubbed end 37 the flange 38 closing the end is inclinedupwardly along a smooth curve to make a curved joinder with the frontside wall 40 and its offset 45, .with the joint object of presenting apleasing exterior finish for the base of the post and strongly bracingthe lower end ofthe joint 45l6 which lower end lies without the mainbody of the sill 20 as appears in Fig. 4. 'Still further. the bottomwall 39 of the post follows the transverse contour of the body to therear of the cowl. The inward offset 45 the base of which is braced bythe upwardly inclined bottom 38 of the post follows the different andmore nearly vertically extending contour 47 of the cowl 27 as indicatedin Fig. The entire A post is a one piece pressed at 46a metal stamping.The side wall 30 is inwardly offset to accommodate the lower ends offlanges 45, 46.

Likewise the D post is a one piece pressed metal stamping. But the formof its base is quite different from that of the A post. Its

base is formed to constitute the connecting bracket (commonly known asthe post D bracket) between the body side sill 20 and the tonneau sidesill 21. The flange 38 of its dubbed-oif end is inwardly extended toform the wide base plate 48 of the bracket structure. Indeed. thechannel section post structure per se may be said to be erected upon thefront outer end of this base plate. The rear side wall is widely flaredby arching it inwardly and rearwardly to form the arch 49 of the wheelhousing of the body in this region. to

connect integrally the rear side Wall 41 of the post and the rear outeredge of the base plate 48'and in its longitudinally extending rearportion 50 to form with the base plate 48 an angular seat to receive thefront end of the angle section side sill 21. This front end is spotwelded to the vertical face of the section 50 of the post as indicatedby as applied in Figs. 3 and 7 and also riveted thereto as well as tothe base plate 48. The upper edge of the merging members 4l4950 isnarrowed upwardly to meet the uniform width of the upper reaches of theD post.

The structure as a whole constitutes a post D bracket of quite a novelform.

The lower windshield header is connected at its ends with the frontwalls 40 of the posts by a lap joint of the form shown in Figs. 10 and11. The header is arched'over and in general conforms to the arched topofthe cowl 27. Its lower edge is provided with an inward offset 51 incontinuation of an inward offset 45 of the front wall 40 of the post andthe cowl flange 46 is similarly welded thereto. The upper edge of theheader 25 is flanged inwardly and upwardly as at 52 and 53 to form anangle-seat for the lower windshield weather stripping.

Su ported in rearwardly spaced relation to the header 25 is a baffleplate 54 supported by means of angle brackets 55 welded by one arm toflange 52 of the header and by, the other arm to the'body of the baffleplate. The baffle plate is extended downwardly and thence forwardlyinteriorly of the cowl 27 whereby jointlv to provide a forward andinward path for incoming air beneath a raised windshieldand toconstitute a support for. an instrument board. The upper margin Qfbalileplate 54 extends vertically a considerable distance above the flange 53of header 25 and preferably above the uppermost raised position of thewindshield. It has its upper edge forwardly turned and beaded but spacedfrom the innermost plane of the windshield. Thereby, air admitted byraising the windshield may pass directly to the interior of the car pastthis inturned beaded edge of baflle 54.

At the top of the A post, as clearly appears in Fig. 12, the top rail 24and the A post are interconnected by means of an angle bracket 56secured to the bottom wall of the channel section top rail as shown inFig. 13. and to the rear side wall 41 of the post. This angle bracket ischiefly differentiated from other constructions by being provided with aseat 57 for the upper hinge of the front door. This seat 57 is in theform of a slot registering with an opening 58 through the outer wall ofthe A post. The bottom end of the post arm of this bracket is thickenedand widened to accommodate this slot and give am le support andfoundation for the hinge. The bottom wall 39 of the post is inwardlyofl'seton its rear edge as at 59 (Figs. 5 and 12) to accommodate thefront door overlap. The outer side wall 60 of the ch anncl section toprail 24 is also inwardly offset in its lower margin and the offsets ofthe top rail and of the post are in continuation of each other at thejuncture of the top rail and the post.

This juncture is effected by butt-welding the outer side wall 60 of thetop 'rail to the bottom side Wall 39 of the post along the line 60a asshown in Fig. 12. The top end 'of the bottom wall 39 is provided with aslight inward ofiset indicated at 60?), Figs. 12 and 13 to bring it intothe plane 60 of the top rail, and also to provide a seating for thelower edge of the roof structure 29.

. At the top of the B-C posts the top rail 24 is joined not only bywelding the abutting end of the post to the bottom wall of the channel,hut'also by riveting and welding to the bottom of the channel section ofthe top rail a U-shaped bracket 62 whose arms are spot welded to theside walls of the channel of the B-C posts. SeeFig. 2. This bracket 62is characterized by the provision of a downturned flange 63in connectionwith the bight of the U section and interconnecting the bight with thetwo arms thereof. This provision greatly strengthens and stilfens thebracket and the joint between the parts of which it forms an element.

The D post at its top is like the A post also connected to the top railthroughan angle bracket. In this case, however, the bracket 64, while ofthe general form of the bracket 56. does not enter the channel of thetop rail 24 but is either welded or riveted to the under side of thechannel wall as clearly appears in Fig. 14. Like the bracket 54 itslower arm is provided with a seat 65 for the hinge, in

this case the seat communicating with a slot in the outer face of thepost. This arm of bracket 64 is secured by welding or riveting to thefront side wall of the D post. The upper end of the post is welded tothe bottom wall of the top rail.

In the rear quarter window the inside window retaining and finish frame67 is a unitary structure of rectangular form having rounded corners,set as a unit into the window frame formed of the D and E posts and thetop rail 24. The sides of this unitary frame 67 are in general ofchannel cross section as clearly appears in Figs. 15 to 18. It issecured in place removably by means of clips (not shown). The form ingeneral is similar to that forming a part of my application filedNovember 14, 1925, Serial No. 69,012 covering door and window frameconstruction.

The roof construction is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, '3. and 13. Indetail it is covered in my application, Serial No. 69,246 filed November14, 1925. It coacts with the skeleton frame and body construction ofthis application through its connection with the peak panel 26 andtoprails 24. The sides of the roof are lapped over-the outer side Walls ofthe channel section top rails 24 and preferably removably securedthereto. The roof is an all metal construction and effectuallyinterbraces the top rails 24 which form the top of the skeleton frame.At the front the roof is provided with a visor section 69 the bottomwall 70 of which is welded directly to the peak panel 26. The peak panel26 at its ends'is welded directly to the A post as shown in Fig. 19. Atthe point of juncture of the visor 69 with the body of the roof is thisstructure is removably attached an inner peak panel 72 having its endsremovably attached to the A posts. Through its connection with the Aposts it braces ,the roof. On its interior is intended to be supported awindshield regulator mechanism in the manner shown in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 69,011 filed November 14, 1925. At its rearend'the roof 29 includes the forwardly arched-over portion '73 of theupper tonneau 'panel,'the central section 79 belng connected therewithby the flanged joints 74.-

This body at large possesses great staunchness. Yet its members are inthe main of very regular form. Theirjoints with each other are straightforward and generous in their overlapping telescoping seating relations.Moreover, both the elements and the joints are open. These factors arenot only of local advantage in each region of the structure but ofgeneral advantage not only for the reasons stated but also by reason ofthe fact that the sub-assembly unit construction is facilitated andfinal assembly of the con structed units is-achieved,

The frontface of the D post rises substantially rectilinearly from themain body side sill. I combine this feature of my invention with anotherdevice to the end of reducing the number of door stampings required.This very feature consists in the making of the front left and rearright door frames of the same contour and dimension. Likewise, I makethe front right and rear left door of the same contour and dimensionstarting from the A and D posts respectively as bases. Stated in otherterms the front and rear doors on opposite sides of the car are symatransverse flange or rib structure 71. fTo

metrical with respect to the transverse plane 2. In a pressed metalvehicle body, in combination, a body side sill, a tonneau sill, and achannel section post all of stamped metal, one side wall of which postis flanged and connected with the side sill through the flange, and theother side wall of which is widely flared inwardly and rearwardly and atitsbase is connected with the'tonneau-sill.

3. In a pressedmetal vehicle body, in combination, a body side sill, atonneau sill, and a channel section post all of stamped metal, one sidewall of which post is flanged and connected with the side sill throughthe flange. and the other side wall of which is arched widely inwardlyand rearwardly to form a flange on the post flush with the thresholdportion of the wheel housing and is at its surface of the sill.

base connected with the tonneau sill.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiz'z my 4. A post D bracketcomprising a stamping signature.

having a horizontally disposed base flange, an upwardly'extendingsubstantially rectilinear channel section at the front outer edgethereof, an inwardly and rearwardly arched extension of the rear wall ofthe'channel section connected with the base and adapted to form a partof a wheel housing.

51 A post D bracket comprising a base flange, a rectilinear channelsection erected at the forward outer end thereof, and a rearwardly deepchannel flange connecting the rear end of the base flange and the rearwall of the channel and adapted jointly to form a side wall of the wheelhousing and a connection with the tonneau side sill.

6. A pressed metal vehicle body, a windshield frame comprising bodyposts, a roof extending from post to post and a windshield peak panelstructure having front and rear walls, the front wall of which issupported directly from the posts and the rear wall of fwhich issupported directly from the mo 7. In a pressed metal vehiclebody, incombination, channel shaped main body side sills having the bottom wallof the channel vertically and outwardly disposed, the lower side wall ofplane form, the bottom of arched form, in its upper margin mergingintothe top of the side wall, the top side wall downwardly and inwardlyflanged, body cross braces having their ends inserted between the planeform bottom side wall and the flange of the upper side wall and securedthereto, and body posts having flanged lower ends wrapped around thearched bottom and top walls of said body sills.

8. In combination, a main body side sill and a pressed metal body postof inwardly presenting channel section extended .down withoutsubstantial change of cross section outwardly of the sill andterminating at the bottom substantially in the plane of the bottom ofthe sill, the main body of said post having a jog fitting over theoutside wall and the top of said sill and formed with a laterallyprojecting flange at said jog wrapped around the side and top of themain body side sill and rigidly secured thereto.

9. In combination, a main body side sill of pressed metal having athreshold section of inwardly presenting channel form, a pressed metalbody post of inwardly presenting channel form having an integrallyflanged jog fitting over the side and top of said threshold section andforming a flanged bottom connection therewith both on the side and thetop of the sill, said sill being formed with an offset in the'contiguouswalls of the side and top thereof of a depth suificient to bring the

